There may not be any softer throwers in baseball than Livan Hernandez and R.A. Dickey. Dickey, of course, is a knuckleballer, so obviously he doesn't throw the ball particularly hard. Hernandez, however, is a classic pitcher … in the sense that he throws fastballs, breaking balls, changeups, etc. It's just that his fastball generally registers in the 84-86 mph range.

Who cares? It works for both guys, who will be squaring off against each other this afternoon at Nationals Park. Livo is 9-10 with a 3.81 ERA, his numbers having tailed off some over the last month. Dickey, meanwhile, has been a revelation for the Mets, going 9-6 with a 2.91 ERA.

We've got a rare 12:35 p.m. first pitch today, so if you can't make it to the park, sit back in your office and hit the refresh button all afternoon as I provide updates on the game and any other developments…

Hooray 12:35 start time! Now I have something to do during Religion, Law and the Constitution! . . . my god 3rd year of law school is a waste . . .But I digress. Go Nats! Good to see this lineup out there

Anonymous said… "Be a nice game to go to. Buy a 10 dollar seat and then sneak down by the dugout and yell at the Big Donkey at first."So, you're telling us you're too good to buy a $5 dollar seat and sneak down by the dugout?

Uh NatsJack? Espinosa didn't get benched because Rizzo instructed Riggleman to play him regularly. Just like he told Jim Riggleman to alternate Ramos and Pudge. You have to know both of those guys would languish on the bench for Nieves, Kennedy with a little Gonzo were it not for that?Riggleman is looking very foolish at this point. All that talk about respecting the game, contending teams and the veterans who helped him get to this point in the season. Overruled. And Riggleman looks like an idiot.His comment about Maya, it being too soon to consider him a part of the future? More stupidity. Rizzo already has him penciled in to the 2011 rotation. He would have to look awfully bad for that to change. The time for a change in managers may be drawing closer ….

Yeah, I'm surprised too about Espinosa not being benched. Wiggleman must be gettin' a grip on real baseball. Danny E. might even learn a few things about hittin' a knuckleball, that he may not have learned already!Goooooooooooo Nats fans, sneakin' or otherwise!

Well, Espinosa might as well have been benched. Until Pudge's late scratch, he was batting 8th. So much for riding the hot hand. Perhaps the 6 hole is a good spot for him until he bats his way out of it. What do the Nats have to lose at this point?

Anon @ 11:47, you are way off base. Riggleman said nothing wrong about Maya. No way can you declare that Maya is a lock for the rotation at this point. I think Olsen's time is done with the Nats so the list is still long for the #5 spot:1) Livan2) Marquis3) JZim4) Lannan5) Maya, FA, Wang, Detwiler, JD Martin, Mock, etc.I think right now there are 4 "locks" for the 2011 rotation and plenty of time to decide up through Spring Training 2011 exactly what that rotation will look like as Rizzo may also make a trade or pick up a Free Agent pitcher also.My biggest complaint with this 2010 team falls mainly on Rizzo which was that they went into the season with no proven Rightfielder, a CF with mental issues who needed to be benched and disciplined back in May (some of that falls on Riggleman too), and a very weak bench, and in Free Agency their top acquisition was Jason Marquis. Adam Kennedy was a weak pickup, and right now Capps and Pudge look like the only positive Free Agent/Trade pickups that went good as well as Rizzo put together an excellent bullpen.The good news is there are a lot of positives to build on and if Danny Espinosa works out to be the real deal at 2nd base then the Nats will be in really good shape going into the off season.I have plenty of criticisms of Riggleman but the guy can only do so much with the players he has.

Sec3MySofa said… "I know we've discussed this before, but srsly, what are opposing pitchers hitting against this team? It seems way beyond coincidental."Working on it. Just hits and at bats.Through April:Nats 7 for 51Opp 11 for 47

Ramos homer I heard. As a former Mets fan, I can tell you that no one, I mean no one, turned the 3-6-3 double play better than Keith Hernandez; I have no idea why he is being made fun of on these boards. He is the best first baseman I've ever seen.

Tcostant said… "As a former Mets fan, I can tell you that no one, I mean no one, turned the 3-6-3 double play better than Keith Hernandez; I have no idea why he is being made fun of on these boards. He is the best first baseman I've ever seen."Are you serious?!Read it again. Here it is so you don't have to look for it. "Mets fans will tell you Keith Hernandez once had 12 [assists] in a single inning. One-handed."Nobody's making fun of Keith Hernandez. Mike's making fun of Mets fans.

Tconstant I think its Mets FANS who are being made fun of for hyperbole, not Keith. Not even Phillies fans could make fun of Keith. Just turned on the game and heard them diss Nyjer for not coming home on Dunn's hit… Then instantly take it back and dissemble through the next two batters. That was the sound of two guys not wanting to be dibbled. What a shame that criticism is no longer safe.

Steve M.,I know it's just an unintentional oversight, but if you're going to criticize Rizzo for Marquis not working out this year, you've got to include Livo in the "positive Free Agent/trade pickups" category. The guy has been an extraordinary value, even if he ends up with a 4.00 ERA. A little run support in April/May and he would be sitting on 13-15 wins right now.

Nyjer's got to be getting a bit gun-shy with any potential close play at the plate. Or maybe 3B Coach Listach is getting timid, but they didn't want to chance it. Besides, bases loaded and one out should get you a run!

In the interest of fairness,I would like to point out that Morse did what Dunn is criticized for regularly–not producing in the clutch. You can love Morse or hate Dunn (or both), but as NatinBeantown said in an earlier post, be fair. Morse left the bases juiced. That was the game.

NatsJack @2:38PM said. . . "Nope. Nyjer didn't watch where the RF was playing and can't judge line drives from anywhere on the field. Ray Knight ripped him royally for not paying attention."Really? I saw it live and did not hear Knight "rip" Morgan. So, I'm watching the re-broadcast now. Here's what Knight is saying as the inning is progressing:During Desmond's at bat:"You don't steal third with no one out. You don't make the first out or second out at third == the last out at third… You cannot get doubled off. You're getting your regular lead at second base…"After Dunn's hit: Bob Carpenter: "Morgan had to make sure the ball landed. The defense for Dunn is so odd."Ray Knight: "You certainly have to wait, but a part of base-running is reading the bat off the ball . . . you don't want to get doubled off . . . the great base-runners will score on that ball. Let me just qualify what I just said –if there's any doubt as a baserunner you have to freeze."